One

Thursday, July 26, 2012

I try to keep away from the weather pronouncements but it’s
inevitable. While other parts of the world are sick to death of the rain we are
parched as are many parts of the US. The rain came in the night and the
lightening was spectacular. It has not cooled down any but as I look out the
window I can see a bird hauling out a worm... well it looks like a worm and the
rain has started again and is filling up the puddles in the driveway.

Enough about the weather as we can’t do much about it or all
the other things that have been filling the news lately. Too many distractions
to write, with, the Euro cup, Wimbledon and now the Olympics from
London. We are not particularly athletic in our house but enjoy watching
others. I especially like the track and field, swimming and other events. GO CANADA! As Britain is five hours
behind I will not be getting up at
4am to watch the tube. I’ll catch up later in the day.

So what does all this television browsing do for my writing?
I could say I am doing research into characterization! Or I am working on my
dialogue. This is all quite true as every experience we have, cerebral or
otherwise is fodder for the book. I quiz my husband about a recent stay in
hospital for minor surgery; about his roommates and the experience itself. A
visit to a long term care facility to visit my old friend of ninety six gives
me another perspective of how many people live. (She misses her glass or two of
sherry every afternoon.)

From the middle aged to the elderly and back to the young in
the shape of my five grandsons. The ages run from three to sixteen. What can I
learn from them? When I spoke to the
youngest last night he only wanted to tell me he had a lollipop and his mouth
and teeth were now blue! His Mum can deal with that one! His brother who is ten
is having the time of his life at the trailer with his Dad and as boys are want
to do he is gone all day swimming , biking, skateboarding, more swimming and
arriving back home for food when he’s hungry. He has his priorities straight
with no thought of anything except “summer fun”.

The six year old is all about YMCA and summer camps and ‘what
will I be getting for my birthday next week’. He has boundless energy that he uses for
soccer and swimming. I’ll see him this w/e. I wonder if he’ll sit long enough to
read a book.

The oldest two... well they are thirteen and sixteen.
Teenagers!! Cousins and best friends they are like chalk and cheese. One is
studious, one not. One is athletic, the other.. walks. Both spend a copious
amount of hours playing computer games. They’re planning a trip with their father
and uncle to Scotland next month. I am so envious but I look forward to hear their
perceptions of my home town through their eyes. So, they’re all right on track.

In between revising and working on query letters I managed
to read two books. Written by..can do no
wrong... http://www.harlancoben.com/ I picked up this book in a used book store
for .50cents. Someone was enjoying it in the bath as it was bent out of shape.
But, a book is a book and this Myron Bolitarbook is called LIVE WIRE. Love
that character and Harlan never disappoints with the suspense and new
revelations.

The other is the third and last Charlie McKelvey mystery by C.B.Forrest http://www.cbforrest.com/ called “The
Devil’s Dust”. A former journalist he is making his mark as a crime/mystery
author. I bought this book at the launch last month and maybe should have
waited to read the others in the series but the story was very well rounded and
full of tension-It stood on its own. I look forward to others from this super
Canadian author.

First year of retirement will be under my belt next week. I’m still not sure how I ever went to work every
day and still got everything done.

Liz and I will get Body Perfect up and running soon as I
have to read the articles in this month's Readers Digest...Seven
strategies for more productive writing.. Revision Made Easy! Your step-by-step guide,
and How to get(& keep) an agents attention. That should do it!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Perfect for reading, or writing of course. Energy expended in other pursuits, gardening,
housework and the like are far too tiresome when the humidex reads in the 40’s! A shade tree, comfortable chair and a glass
full of something cold are worthy companions for an afternoon spent lost in a
book. Oh. Wait. I forgot - I have to go
to the office and work instead.

Last week I finished Gayle Lynd’s “The Book of Spies”…wow..what a ride! So many ways to kill a person – and at the
heart of the story, a fantastic legendary library dating from antiquity. So appropriate. This tale would make a fantastic movie
thriller and I hope to see more of Eva Blake and Judd Ryder. Have to agree with the London Observer who
says “she’s a kick-ass thriller writer”. I closed the back cover on that book and
then opened Deryn Collier’s “ConfinedSpace” after a glowing recommendation from Pam.
It would appear the story will live up to her enthusiastic review.

Pam and I continue to tinker with Body Perfect; re-writing scenes and pumping up dialogue and
description. We feel we only need to
tweak the first 3 or 4 chapters (I hope!) and then will be able to mesh
everything with the remainder of what’s already written. Pam, in her spare time, compiles lists of
agents and publishers. And I try to keep pace with her revisions and
suggestions. The challenge is to not
have this become drudgery – after sitting at an office desk for eight hours, I don’t
want to feel I’m coming home to put in more hours of work. We’ve looked at Body Perfect so much, it’s
hard to keep it fresh. But we will
soldier on.

I recently joined “The Hungry Bookworms” page on
Facebook. Great place to share book
suggestions and hear recommendations from other readers and writers. Lots of
enthusiasm and friendly discussions. If you’re looking for a place to get ideas
on what to read, check it out!

And now its time to have a bite to eat. One side benefit when the weather is this
warm, not too many heavy meals are on the menu – and I’m very grateful for air
conditioning.